I dug my heels into the horse and turned toward camp where I noticed Bael waiting for me at the top of the earthen staircase that led down into the base camp and into the mines.

“Tell me you saw them, too.” I dragged my eyes from the ground to look at Bael.

“I saw them alright. We have to get everyone ready.” A cold mask of anger and pain covered his face as he turned his horse and headed down into the pit.

“Bael…I…” I reached out, but he ignored me and carried on.

“Don’t tell Astra or Eske. We need them to be at the top of their game.”

“They’re going to ask where they are. We can’t just-”

“We can and we will. Avoid them at all costs. I don’t care what you have to do. Make up an excuse, even going to one of the priestesses to pray would work fine. Just don’t tell them. And don’t tell Astra, whatever you do, don’t tell Astra. I swear on the mouth of the Mother if you do-”

“Okay! I get it. Now stop taking the Mother’s name in vain. There are priestesses around and if they caught you saying that-”

“I know and I don’t really care. I would rather bare the whip one hundred thousand times over if it meant that Soudal and Threnchal weren’t…” Bael clamped his mouth shut so hard I could hear his teeth grinding together. I looked down toward General Ganger and urged my horse forward, overtaking Bael. I dismounted and bowed as Ganger nodded for me to speak.

“There’s an army on our doorstep. Hundreds of Q’el are barely even a mile to the south. We’re out numbered ten to one. There are too many irregulars for the amount of soldiers we have. We need to get reinforcements here before nightfall when they will most likely attack. Threnchal and Soudal…” I swallowed the lump in my throat and shoved all emotion out of my mind. I made my face look blank. “Threnchal and Soudal are dead, sir.”

Ganger stood stock still and blinked once, twice. “Are you sure? There hasn’t been an attack of that magnitude in five hundred years. Not since the Last Great War.”

“We just watched our friends get torn to shreds by three irregulars. Do you really think we would say that there’re hundreds of Q’el on our doorstep if it wasn’t true?” Bael snapped at the General. “Send a messenger, a raven, a pigeon, a boar would do the trick. If you don’t, everyone here is going to die and more Q’el will invade our lands.”

I stared wide-eyed at Bael then cautiously looked up at General Ganger to see utter outrage written across his face. His eyes narrowed dangerously as he moved closer and glowered at Bael. “You impertinent, maggot. I’ll deal with your ruttish mouth after, but now I have more important things that concern me. But just so we’re clear, if you ever speak to me that way again, I’ll-” he leaned in and whispered in Bael’s ear. I saw a flash of silver in the General’s hand and I watched Bael’s eyes widen before Ganger walked off. Ganger began shouting orders and I turned to Bael.

“The hell did he say to you?” I tilted my head.

“He held a knife against my balls and said that he’d cut them off and wear them around his neck with honour. I guess that’s where he gets the nickname ‘the torture king’ from.” Bael swallowed. “I’ll take the horses to the stables. I believe your mother is calling out for you.” He grabbed the reins from my horse and walked away just as I heard my name being shouted from behind me.

“Aida! I heard the horn and I was so worried. You look like you haven’t showered in weeks. You’re covered in filth.” She walked toward me, her long, navy blue winter dress swaying just above the ground. She pulled her wolf pelt cloak tighter around her and shivered as the icy wind bit into her exposed skin. “It’s freezing out here. How do you even manage to be outside for more than a few minutes at a time?” She took my hand and pulled me toward the royal tent where she spends most of her time by the warmth of the fire, when she’s here that is.

“Why are you here? You were supposed to be staying back at the inn in Almdalir until I came back.” We entered the tent and she darted instantly for the fireside. I stayed by the door. My mother and I were close, but she was brought up amongst all the fineries that upper-class society life could offer. She is the queen of Rathanskia after all. I bear no royal responsibilities though. I’m a bastard born child. I have highborn blood because my mother is the daughter of the second most powerful family in Rathanskia next to the royals. That is before she became the queen, however. But, lucky me, I’m the daughter of an unknown wench. Sometimes I wonder who he was or is, but he doesn’t concern me. I don’t like wasting my time on things I can’t change.

“Yes, but I wanted to see you. You’re my only daughter. I needed to get away from Aren and Kari. Kari has turned out just like my husband, a half-faced, fobbing ingrate. I hate thinking about the monster I created. He can’t even respect his marriage vows.” She threw her hair back over her shoulder in indignation. “I love him, but he will bring terror to this kingdom when he becomes king.”

“King Aren is just a lumpish, old clout. You can’t blame Kari for growing up just like his father.” I said and shrugged. “Now you need to get as far away from here as possible before that armada of hundreds of Q’el tear this place to shreds.” I moved toward her cases of clothing and began locking them up.

“What armada? Q’el? There hasn’t been an army of Q’el that size in over five hundred years, not since The Great War-“

I turned and cut her off, “Well I’m sorry that you don’t believe me, but I saw it. There are hundreds of them and will probably attack at dusk. We have less than twelve hours to get reinforcements here or else we will be utterly destroyed. You need to go back to Almdalir where you will be taken back home to the capital.”

“What happened out there?”

I turned around, a smart remark on the tip of my tongue, but instead I saw her staring straight into the fire. She was talking to the fire, she could see something. I watched her flinch, her mouth moved slightly, but her gaze never faltered, she didn’t blink. My mum was a mage. She was trained to be one of the priestesses of the summer temples but when she met the previous king, Aren’s older brother, Asgrim, she was married to him within two weeks. Mum still used her powers whenever she could find the time, even though Aren hated it. Though I think that’s due to him not doing anything but sit, eat and boss people around all day. He’s too lazy to learn a class.

“I’m sorry…” Mum continued to stare into the fire. I felt the sting of burning tears and let them slide down my face, but I quickly wiped them away. This was no time to grieve. I wrapped my arms around myself and breathed deeply. Time to go.

The fire suddenly burst upward, and the flames rose up to the top of the tent, setting it alight. I strained to see my mother through the flames, but I looked just in time to see her eyes being engulfed in flame, terror written across her face. She stumbled back, and I raced over to catch her before she hit the ground.

“…Evil…” she wheezed, trying to catch her breath, “They’re here…”